Putin: EU should observe Russia`s stance on Trans-Caspian gas route

Putin: EU should observe Russia`s stance on Trans-Caspian gas route

Any decision made by the European Union on the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline should first be adopted by the countries of the so-called “Caspian five“: Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, presidential aide Yury Ushakov said last Friday, citing Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline is designed to pump gas from the Caspian region to the EU bypassing Russia. Moscow criticizes the project because the Caspian Sea status has not been defined yet.

“Given the persistent attempts of the EU to promote the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, Putin explained the legal aspects around the Caspian Sea. Any decision with respect to the Caspian Sea could be taken only on the basis of the `Caspian five`s` consensus. Otherwise, it would be illegitimate. The EU cannot ignore it,“ Ushakov said while summarizing the results of a Russian-European summit in St. Petersburg.

“There were mutual interests in the implementation of infrastructure projects, including the South Stream pipeline, as well as certain disagreements. In particular, President Putin outlined several particular difficulties that our companies face in Germany, Lithuania, Poland and other EU countries due to implementation of the EU`s third energy package,“ Ushakov said.

He added that Russia criticized the package, as it violates the rights of Russian investors and does not improve energy security on the continent as declared. “Such initiatives of the EU force us to work more actively with the alternative energy sales markets,“ Ushakov said.